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Super-Charged: Chatfield’s high-powered offense too much for Central

Central High School quarterback Taylor Sanchez, 2, dodges the Chatfield defense Friday night to run almost the length of the field before having a touchdown called back on a holding penalty during the Warriors’ 35-14 loss to the Chargers at Stocker Stadium.

Central’s Aaron Wallway is tackled Friday night by Chatfield’s Eric Gaytan during the first half of the Warriors’ loss to the Chargers.

Halfback Patrick Elsenbast and quarterback Anthony Hoehler combined to run for 238 yards and three touchdowns Friday night to lead the Chargers to a 35-14 victory at Stocker Stadium.

“We were scrambling trying to figure out what to do defensively to stop that quarterback iso(lation),” Central coach Vern McGee said. “That fullback would come through, lead our middle linebacker and we had nobody else to clean up.

“We’ve got to keep working, getting better, watch film and see what we need to do. The biggest thing was our effort. It was so much better tonight; it just wasn’t enough to win a game.”

The Chargers (1-1) produced 320 yards in total offense, including 228 on the ground. Elsenbast had 16 carries for 121 yards and one touchdown. Hoehler ran 25 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Hoehler completed 7 of 14 passes for 92 yards and one touchdown.

Like last week, Central (0-2) turned the ball over three times and fell behind early. Although the Warriors got within a touchdown in the third quarter, but couldn’t pull even.

Central turned the ball over on the first play from scrimmage when Chatfield’s Eric Gaytan was the recipient of an unusual play.

A pass from Central quarterback Taylor Sanchez was batted between a receiver and defensive back and popped up. Gaytan snatched it out of the air.

“The first thing I thought, ‘Oh, no, not again,’ ” McGee said. “That was just a freak play. We actually kicked the ball up to him. It was really weird.”

Six plays later, Elsenbast scored on an 11-yard run.

Central had a big play of its own when Sanchez scored on a 85-yard run, but it was called back on a holding penalty.

The Warriors tried to settle for a field goal, but Daniel Moore’s attempt missed.

Chatfield took a 14-0 lead when linebacker Nick Brown intercepted Sanchez and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.

“Taylor is going to get better the more he sees the field,” McGee said. “A couple times when he scrambled I didn’t see anyone open, so we’d rather him scramble than take a 10-yard sack.”

Sanchez was intercepted again on the first play of the next possession, setting up a touchdown. This time, Hoehler connected with Colin Hale for an 11-yard pass play to give the Chargers a 21-0 lead.

Central faced a third-and-14 on its next possession, but came up with a big play when Sanchez hit Aaron Wallway for a 56-yard score.

“I just read the defense and if there is no one on me or I think I can beat him, I say, ‘Hey, Taylor, hot, hot, hot.’ He throws it, I catch it and scored,” Wallway said.

Central’s Noah Sanchez recovered a Chatfield fumble to give the Warriors another opportunity before halftime, but Central ran out of time after Taylor Sanchez was sacked.

The Chatfield punter made an error on the Chargers’ first possession of the second half when his knee touched the ground, ruling him down in high school football. Central took over at the Chatfield 17. Sanchez scored four plays later on a 6-yard run to get the Warriors within seven, 21-14.

The Chargers, though, wore down Central’s defense the rest of the second half, running 33 plays to Central’s 16.

Hoehler was the beneficiary, scoring on runs of 5 and 8 yards in the fourth quarter.